A Brief history of Thailand
The word "Thai" means free
and therefore Thailand means the land of free. Previously the country was
well known to the world as "Siam". The official
proclamation to change the name of the country into "Prathet
Thai" or Thailand was made in May 1949 by which it has since come to
be known throughout the world.
In childhood, our school textbooks told us that our ancestors had their
roots in Southern China some 4500 years ago. Under the pressure from China
they moved southward and then established the Capital in Sukhothai, the
northern province of Thailand.
Now there are some confliction opinion and theories about the origin of
Thais since the discovery of many instruments and artifacts at the villages
of "Ban Chiang" in the northeastern province of
Udon Thani. The theory about the origin of Thai people has now changed, it
appears that the Thais might have first settled down here in Thailand and
later scattered to various parts of Asia.
The controversy over the origin of the Thais shows no sign of definite
conclusion as many more theories have been put forward. The outcome of the
dispute may be, by the 13th century the Thai had already settled down within
the Southeast Asia mainland with Sukhothai as the first Kingdom. Sukhothai
flourished for over 100 years during which time the distinctive forms of
Thai arts, architecture and culture were firmly implanted.
In the mid of the 14th century a new and more powerful dynasty arose at
Ayuthaya, an island city in the Chao Phaya river some 85 kms north of
present day Bangkok. Quickly gaining in weatlth and the prestige in
military, Ayuthaya absorbed the former kingdom of Sukhothai and remained the
Thailand's capital for 417 years. Ayuthaya prospered steadily, reaching the
height of its power in the 17th century when diplomati relations with the
west wear established and trade agreements made with the leading European
powers of the day. With its weakness by internal conflicts, Ayuthaya fell to
the Bermese in 1767. After fleeing south, the survivors of Ayuthaya were
rallied under King Taksin who found a new capital at Thongburi and
eventually succeeded in expelling the Burmese from the Thai ground.
On the death of King Taksin in 1782 Chao Phaya Chakri was proclaimed the
King and moved the capital across the river to the present location of
Bangkok as Thonburi was too vulnerable to Burmese attack. The King founded
the present Chakri dynasty.
Under the Chakri Kings the borders of Thailand were consolidated and other
parts of the country were gradually brought under the full control of the
central government.
The absolute monarchy was continue through the reign of King Rama VI. But in
1932 in the reign of King Rama VII, the state council succeeded in bringing
about the change to a "Constitutional Monarchy". The throne passed to the
young King Ananda Mahidol and was succeeded by his brother King Bhumipol the
Great, the present monarch.
Read about the History of Bangkok
